Web winding apparatus and method



A. P. JONES ETAL WEB WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD May l1, 1965 Filed llaroh 11 1963 Illlllllllllllllnllll United States Patent O" 3,182,924 WEB WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Allen P. Jones and Bennett L. Jones, Sr., Fredericksburg,

and Joseph A. Zitz, Stafford, Va., assignors, by mesne assignments, to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,212 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-68.1)

This invention relates to a web winding operation wherein a web winding core loosely mounted on a shaft rotated at substantially constant speed is frictionally driven from the shaft so that the core speed decreases as the web builds up thereon and more particularly the invenl tion is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing overheating of the core in an operation of this type.

In conventional slitting and rewinding apparatus, a relatively wide web is pulled at substantially constant linear speed from a supply and is cut or slit into desired narrower 4widths which are directed onto rewind cores mounted on one o'r more rewind shafts. To avoid unduly complex controls, the rewind shafts are rotated at substantially constant speed and a friction drive is provided between the shaft and the core or cores, which are loosely mounted thereon. The friction drive permits the cores to slow down as the rewinding operation proceeds in order to compensate for the increasing diameter of the web roll and permit the constant linear web speed to be maintained. Since the rewind shaft speed is constant, considerable heat is generated due to friction between the p core and the shaft as the core slows down and if this heat is transmitted through the core to the web considerable damage to the web may result, depending, of course, largely upon the nature of the web material. For example, if the web is of a heat-scalable nature, the friction-generated heat may cause the inner windings thereof to adhere together and as a matter of fact this has been a serious problem in connection with the winding of cellophane having a heat-sealable coating.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a system of the type above described a method of preventing the core from overheating due to the slippage thereof about the shaft. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a web winding apparatus of the type described having means for dissipating frictional heat from the winding shaft and core in such manner that the heat is not transmitted to the web being wound on the core.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a winding shaft so constructed and arranged as to facilitate the dissipation of heat generated as the core and shaft rotate relative to one another.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of a preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

'Referring now to the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the construction of the windingA shaft of the present invention and the mounting of the core thereon; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the overall winding apparatus.

Referring first to FIG. 2, a wide web 10 which is to be slit into narrower widths is supplied from a roll 11 mounted on a rotatable shaft 12. The web passes around a number of rollers 13, 14, 1S, and 16 at least some of which are positively driven at a substantially constant speed so as to draw the web from the roll at a substantially constant linear speed. As the web leaves roll 16 it encounters a knife or blade 17 from whence one portion of the now slit web is directed onto a core mounted on a positively driven shaft 18 for winding into roll form 19 as 3,182,924 Patented May l1, 1965 ice will presently be described in detail. The other portion of the slit web is directed around positively driven rollers l20 and -21 after which it may be slit into still narrower widths by a knife or blade 22, the narrower widths being subsequently wound into roll form on individual cores mounted on a positively driven shaft 23. It is not necessary that all of the rollers 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, and 21 be positively driven but it is desirable tov have the web pass over a number of rollers prior to rewinding in order to smooth the web and rid it of any irregularities that were imposed thereon when it was originally wound into the wide rollv 11.

Winding shafts 18 and 23 may have the identical `construction and in FIG. 1 shaft 18 is shown in detail. Shaft 18 is suitably mounted at its ends in bearings 24 carried by supports 25, only the bearing and support for the lefthand end being shownin the drawing. At one end shaft 18 has secured thereto a gear 26 which, when the shaft is in position, meshes with a gear 27 by means of which said shaft is rotated at a substantially constant speed. Web

roll 19 is wound onto a core 28 formed of dense paper or the like and loosely mounted on the shaft 18. Rings 29 and 30, loosely fitted about the shaft, are connected to core 28 by means of pins 31 and 32 provided o'n said ring members respectively, said pins being -driven into the ends of the core. Engaging an end face of ring 29 is a ring member 33 which is provided with a key 34 extending into a slot or key-way 35 extending longitudinally of shaft 18. The engagement of the key 34 with the slot 35 prevents relative rotary movement between shaft 18l and ring member 33 and a set screw or the like 36 extending through the ring member and into a notch in the shaft restrains the ring member againstvendwse movement.

Slidably mounted upon and keyed against rotation with respect to shaft 18 adjacent ring member 30 is a loading collar 37 having an annular face 37 engaged with an end face of ring member 30. A conventional end loading means 38 presses member l37 toward the left as viewed in the drawing so as to hold ring members 29 and 30 in tight engagement with the ends of the core and maintain frictional contact between ring members 29 and 33 as well as between ring member 30 and annular face 37' of member 37. Members 33 and 37 rotating with shaft 18 constitute in cooperation with ring members -29 and 30 a friction drive means between the shaft and core 28. Preferably, the various members of the friction drive means are formed of Phenolite or similar material capable of withstanding heat.

As previously mentioned, the slit web is supplied to core 28 at a substantially constant linear speed and shaft 18 is rotated at a substantially constant rotary speed. Thus, as the roll 19 builds up on the core the rotary speed of the core must decrease if it is to continue to take up the web at a constant linear speed and the friction drive between shaft 18 and the core permits this to take place. Obviously, as slippage takes place between the shaft and the core, the resultant friction creates heat and unless some provision is made to harmlessly dissipate this heat at least a good portion of the heat will be transmitted through the core to the web being woundthereupon and, depending upon the amount `of heat and the nature of the web material, serious damage to the web could result.l v

In order to prevent overheating of core 28, the following arrangement is provided. Shaft 18 is provided with a cavity 39 of substantial volume and an .axial bore or passageway 40 extends from cavity 39 through one end of the shaft. Key-way or groove 35 is made co-extensive with the length of the shaft and openings or passages 41 provide communication between `cavity 39 and groove 35. Air under pressure is supplied through a nozzle 42 and blown through bore 40 into the cavity 39. Nozzle 42 is spaced a small distance from the end of the shaft so that the jet effect of the air issuing from the nozzle draws additional air from the room along with it. The air is discharged from cavity 39 through openings 41 and groove 35. Ring members 29 and 30 are provided respectively with outwardly directed vent openings 43 and 44 through which the air is vented from groove 35. Openings 43 and 44 not only serve to vent the air harmlessly away from the ends of core 28 but additionally serve to cool the ring members 29 and 30, these members being heated not only duc tovslippage about shaft 18 but also by their frictional engagement with the respective driving members 33 and 37. The air is forced to vent through openings 43 and 44 because the groove 35 is closed at the ends by the key 34 of ring member 33 and a corresponding key of member 37. The air passing outwardly between shaft 18 and core 28 serves to withdraw or dissipate the heat generated as the continuously slowing core slips about the shaft. In order to balance the shaft and compensate for the material removed in forming the keyway or groove 35 a diametri cally opposed groove 45 may be cut into the shaft.

Having thus described a preferred form of the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a web winding operation wherein a web is supplied at a substantially constant linear speed to a core which is mounted upon a shaft rotating at a substantially constant rotary speed and frictionally driven from the shaft whereby in order to wind the web at a constant linear rate the core slows down as the diameter of the webroll increases; the method of preventing overheating of the core due to the friction between the core and shaft comprising introducing air under pressure into the interior of the shaft and venting the air from the shaft into a passageway between the core and the shaft and thence outwardly beyond the end of the core.

2. Web winding apparatus comprising a shaft` means for rotating said shaft at a substantially constant speed, a core loosely mounted on said shaft, friction drive means connecting said shaft to said core, means for feeding a web to said core at a substantially constant linear speed, said friction drive permitting said core to slip about said shaft as the web builds up on the core whereby the web is wound at substantially constant linear speed onto the core, a longitudinal groove in the surface of said shaft, said groove extending beyond the ends of said core, and means for directing air under pressure through said groove to prevent overheating of the core due to the slippage of the core about said shaft.

3. Web winding apparatus comprising a hollow shaft, means for rotating said shaft at a substantially constant speed, a core loosely mounted on said shaft, friction drive means connecting said shaft to said core, means for feeding a web to said core at a substantiallyconstant linear speed, said friction drive means permitting said core to slip about said shaft as the web builds up on the core whereby the web is wound at substantially constant linear speed onto the core, means for introducing air under pressure to the interiorv of said hollow shaft, and means for venting the air from said shaft against said core in order to prevent heating of the core due to the slippage thereof about said shaft.

4. Web winding apparatus comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft at a substantially constant speed, a core loosely mounted on said shaft, friction drive means connecting said shaft to said core, means for feeding a web to said core at a substantially constant linear speed, said friction drive permitting said core to slip about said shaft as the web builds up on the core whereby the web is wound at substantially constant linear speed onto the core, means defining a cavity within said shaft, an axial bore extending from said cavity through one end of said shaft, a longitudinal groove in the surface of said shaft, said groove extending beyond the ends of said core, an opening interconnecting said cavity and said groove, and means for directing air under pressure through said axial bore into said cavity, said air being discharged from said cavity through said opening and groove and serving to prevent overheating of the core due to the slippage of the core about said shaft.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said friction drive means comprises a 'first ring member secured to said core and rotatable about said shaft, and a second ring member keyed to said shaft by a key portion engaged within said groove.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said first ring member is provided with outwardly directed vent openings through which the air is vented from said groove.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,207,312 7/40 Consigliere 51-266 X 2,289,519 7/42 Randall 242-72 2,826,880 3/58 Wisnieske 51-266 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

2. WEB WINDING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SHAFT, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT AT A SUBTANTIALLY CONSTANT SPEED, A CORE LOOSELY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, FRICTION DRIVE MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHAFT TO SAID CORE, MEANS FOR FEEDING A WEB TO SAID CORE AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT LINEAR SPPED, SAID FRICTION DRIVE PERMITTING SAID CORE TO SLIP ABOUT SAID SHAFT AS THE WEB BUILDS UP ON THE CORE WHEREBY THE WEB 